News Briefs: Biosimilars Have Produced About $21 Billion in Savings in U.S. Over Past Six Years

Biosimilars have produced about $21 billion in savings for the U.S. health care system over the past six years, according to the 2022 Amgen Biosimilar Trends Report. That competition is resulting in decreasing average sales prices (ASPs) for both biosimilars and their reference products, found the ninth edition of the report, and uptake of biosimilars continues to increase. In the second quarter of 2022, drug spend savings were estimated to be $3.2 billion. Biosimilars for more classes, pharmacy benefit drugs and interchangeable biosimilars are among the trends expected over the next few years.

Rheumatologists are reporting a growing familiarity with biosimilars, with three-quarters of respondents to a Cardinal Health survey saying they are “very familiar” with the agents compared with 53% who said that in 2020. The Rheumatology Insights: October 2022 report found that, among other things, almost two-thirds of respondents said they are “very comfortable” with prescribing the drugs. New patients and existing patients whose payers have mandated the use of a biosimilar are the top categories of patients for whom respondents are likely to prescribe biosimilars, both cited by about 40% of respondents.